The crying shattered the serenity of the rainy night, but soon tranquility returned.
I don't know how long it had been when the rain stopped and the summer insects resumed their murmurings.
Delicate footsteps echoed in the deep night within the residence, halting quickly before the side gate.
The lock on the side gate was half hanging, never secured in place.
Fang Jinxiu watched silently for a moment and couldn't help but look back.
The night was pitch black with occasional flickers of light where she thought she saw shadowy figures watching her, or perhaps it was just her eyes playing tricks.
Did she really expect someone to see her off?
Fang Jinxiu chuckled at her own self-mockery and looked down at the small bundle in her hands.
This was given to her by Concubine Yuan. She had originally planned to take nothing with her.
Since she was no longer the Third Miss of the Fang Family, she might as well come with empty hands and leave with empty hands.
But Concubine Yuan insisted that she shouldn't be so rigid and stuffed a small bundle into her hands.
"At least take some clean clothes to change into," she said.
Fang Jinxiu slung the bundle over her shoulder, lifted her head, unlocked the side gate, and walked out with big strides.
The door closed, isolating her figure as Fang Yunxiao, hidden behind a tree, could no longer hold back her tears.
"Will she be alright? It's the middle of the night, it wouldn't be too late to leave at dawn," she cried.
Fang Yuxiu patted her shoulder, comforting her.
"Let her do as she pleases," she said, "Don't worry, our Third Sister is a very capable person."
On the other side, Old Lady Fang sighed softly as she looked at Concubine Yuan kneeling before her.
"Go and rest," she said.
Concubine Yuan gave two more kowtows.
"Thank you, Old Lady," she said.
"No need for thanks, thank you here and thank you there, it means nothing. There's still so much to do tomorrow, everyone should rest up," Old Lady Fang said, looking at the night sky, which was about to turn white in the east, heralding the arrival of a new day.
By the time it was fully light, the streets were already packed with people, as if the entire population of Yangcheng had come out. In fact, not only those from Yangcheng but also neighbors from surrounding villages and counties with their families had arrived the previous night, queuing up at the city gates.
For today was the day set for the Yangcheng county government to publicly execute the major criminal involved in the De Sheng Chang scandal.
The moment the prison cart carrying Song Yunping was brought out from the jail, the crowd waiting on the streets stirred and became noisy, and rotten vegetables prepared earlier showered down like rain.
Although the exact details of County Magistrate Li Song Yunping's crimes were not yet announced, all sorts of rumors had already spread, involving De Sheng Chang and incidents from more than a decade ago, piling on the shoulders of the onlookers.
Although this was not a case of an official being a corrupt bureaucrat, and strictly speaking, it was a private grievance unrelated to others, on one hand, the status of County Magistrate Li chilled and disappointed the people, fearing the possibility of facing unfortunate incidents at the hands of a heartless official capable of such deceitful plots.
On the other hand, Song Yunping, strictly a servant and shopkeeper to others, had committed such an act of treachery, causing everyone to shudder at the thought of having such maliciously intent individuals around them.
Thus, each and every one felt a righteous indignation and an empathetic abhorrence for the unfairness.
More importantly, the streets had been conveniently lined with baskets of rotten vegetables for everyone's use.
When it's something easy, free, and fun, why not go along with it?
Of course, it was the Fang Family who had arranged for these rotten vegetables.
If it weren't for the special court executioners invited from the Taiyuan prefecture due to the sensitive nature of the case, these rotten vegetables would be laid out from the county jail entrance all the way to the execution platform on East Street.
When the execution officer and the escorting government soldiers started their procession down the street, striking gongs to clear the way, the first wave of rotten vegetables had already ended.
Inside the prison cart, Song Yunping appeared haggard and disheveled, the criminal reason plate on his back was crooked, and the characters for the convict Song Yunping were obscured by the leaves.
Song Yunping felt a mixture of anger and inexplicable fear.
This fear should not be surprising—after all, a man about to die would naturally be scared—but apart from the fear of death, there was the empty fear of everything turning to ash.
Song Yunping had lived in Yangcheng for nearly two decades, striving to become a well-known good man, exemplifying loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness. Who didn't know Head Shopkeeper Song when he stepped out? Who didn't secretly give him the thumbs up in admiration?
Reputation is not easily built, yet it falls so easily.
Song Yunping squinted through the hair over his eyes, dimly observing the undisguised disgust and rage of the common people, and the disdain and contempt from the well-off and influential sitting in the restaurants on both sides.
He had never imagined this day would come, like waking from a dream.
Would he wake up to still be the highly esteemed and trusted Head Shopkeeper Song of the Fang Family?
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Actually, it wouldn't have been bad to live that way for an entire lifetime.
A twinge of regret suddenly surged in Song Yunping's heart.
But this regret was too late because, with government soldiers clearing the path, the prison cart quickly made its way through the crowded streets to the execution platform.
The soldiers formed a clear space in front of the execution platform, and sitting atop the high stage were various officials from Taiyuan prefecture.
Song Yunping was dragged down from the prison cart, stirring a commotion among the crowd, but almost immediately, the noise sharply dissipated, and silence enveloped the surroundings.
This quiet came so suddenly that Song Yunping instinctively looked over and saw a space parting within the dense crowd.
A group of people dressed in hemp and mourning attire approached.
Mostly women, they were led by the white-haired Old Lady Fang, with Fang Chengyu, the only male of the family, supporting her.
Everyone else was held back, but the approaching group was evidently expected, as the soldiers had been notified to clear a way for them.
"At this moment, we cannot kill our enemy by our own hands in public,"
a government official thought, unable to restrain himself.
The death of County Magistrate Li had been announced as suicide from fear of punishment, and regardless of whether the truth had already spread, these words couldn't be openly spoken.
Song Yunping also felt some trepidation.
Would these women beat him to death on the spot? That would be even worse than decapitation with a clean stroke.
Fortunately, the Fang family didn't pounce forward but instead stopped under the execution platform, each one of them glaring at him with a mix of fury and sorrow.
Song Yunping lowered his gaze.
After a moment of silence from the crowd, the commotion rose again as the executioner ascended the platform.
Much like an Executioner, the executioner was specially requested from Taiyuan prefecture. Rumored to be a master of beheading for over a decade, he exuded a fearsome presence. Big and burly with a terrifying demeanor, he held the Ghost Head Knife as he took the stage, causing the citizens of Yangcheng to gasp in fear, finding a thrilling chill even during the height of summer.
As the executioner positioned himself, the crowd held their breath, and the officials on the stage began reading the charges.
Though various versions of the case had been circulating for a while, it was only today that the official verdict was heard, prompting the listeners to prick up their ears. Storytellers from all over who had come took careful notes, as everything happening today would become material for their livelihood.
The charges read were much more detailed than usual; firstly, because the case began over twenty years ago, and secondly, at the behest of the Fang family.
The Fang family wanted the people to understand that the curse they bore for these years was not a natural disaster, but a man-made calamity.
The charges went on and on for a full half hour, captivating the crowd, sometimes enlightening, astonishing, saddening, or enraging them.
The storytellers frantically wrote down every word, confident that fellow professionals must have polished the wording for such plain and understandable language.
After the verdict was read, the public felt a touch of reluctance for its end, but what followed was an even more anticipated and exciting event, stirring the crowd once more.
The Executioner stood upright, solemnly calling out Song Yunping's name, and the executioner stepped forward. The midday sun cast a towering shadow as if an evil spirit from hell had arrived, rendering the audience silent, their gaze fixated on the executioner's Ghost Head Knife.
Song Yunping had become numb, yet a rush of boldness surged within him.
"In twenty years, once again a hero I'll be," he shouted out loud.
His cry stirred excitement among the crowd, who erupted into a ruckus.
"Begin the execution!" An official from the high platform, displeased by the reaction, threw down a fire signal stick and bellowed the order.
The executioner drew the criminal reason plate and hoisted the Ghost Head Knife high.
"Off to the road, please," he bellowed, causing hearts in the nearby crowd to skip a beat.
With that shout, the raised knife descended.
The crowd held their breath, clenching their teeth, but instead of seeing a head fall and blood spurt three feet, they witnessed a different scene.
The executioner's Ghost Head Knife merely grazed Song Yunping's shoulder and half his neck.
Blood surged forth and he fell to the ground with a horrified scream, but without the finality of a beheading.
This was far too terrifying.
More frightening than a decapitated head, for the man with half a head was still alive and screaming.
The onlooking crowd screamed in unison.
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Have a great weekend, enjoy the beautiful spring weather, and go out to have fun (づ￣3￣)づ╭?～
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